Community-based accompaniment for adolescents transitioning to adult HIV care in urban Peru: a pilot study

Vargas V.; Wong M.; Rodriguez C.A.; Sanchez H.; Galea J.; Ramos A.; Senador L.; Kolevic L.; Matos E.; Sanchez E.; Errea R.A.; Ramos K.; Beckhorn C.; Lindeborg A.; Benites C.; Lecca L.; Shin S.; Franke M.F. · AIDS and Behavior (2022) · DOI: 10.1007/s10461-022-03725-2

Resumen

We piloted a community-based intervention to improve outcomes among adolescents living with HIV who were transitioning to adult-oriented care in Lima, Peru. We assessed feasibility and potential effectiveness, including within-person changes in self-reported adherence, psychosocial metrics (NIH Toolbox), and transition readiness (“Am I on TRAC” questionnaire, “Got Transition” checklist). From October 2019 to January 2020, we enrolled 30 adolescents (15–21 years). The nine-month intervention consisted of logistical, adherence and social support delivered by entry-level health workers and group sessions to improve health-related knowledge and skills and social support. In transition readiness, we observed within-person improvements relative to baseline. We also observed strong evidence of improvements in adherence, social support, self-efficacy, and stress, which were generally sustained three months post-intervention. All participants remained in treatment after 12 months. The intervention was feasible and potentially effective for bridging the transition to adult HIV care. A large-scale evaluation, including biological endpoints, is warranted.